Real time travel director

ABSTRACT

A travel director provides persons, robots and/or vehicles with real time “you-are-here” directions to a destination or series of destinations within a defined environment, such as a building. large aircraft, train or submarine. The director can also locate and/or direct travel to specific coordinates, people, places, and/or components and equipment within a defined environment. The director creates a complete virtual signature of an existing physical building/structure and defines coordinates on a virtual grid and compares the linear range from a set of unique segments programmed on multiple sequenced and strategically placed identifier tags/chips or from identified telemetric signals pre-existing in the environment.

REFERENCE TO PENDING APPLICATIONS

This application is based upon and claims priority to U.S. ProvisionalPatent Application No. 60/803,806 which was filed on Jun. 2, 2006.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to locator systems and moreparticularly concerns real time locators using signals which are notinterrupted by line of sight obstacles.

There is a need in the art for a mobile building positioning system thatcan provide a user with exact directions to a specific location orlocations input as one or more destinations; or provide a user'sposition within a building, or locate a specific items, place(s) orthing within a building and or facility. Current options exclude theeconomical or practical use of any system relying on the commonly usedtechnology available from GPS because of the limitations of “line ofsight” which is obstructed by the physical properties of a building.Other systems available now all have similar limitations. For instance,a “way-finding” system like is in use in many hospitals, consists ofcomputer monitors/kiosks located at primary locations within thebuilding which can be accessed by a user to print out a map from hislocation to a specific location programmed into the system. This systemhas inherent limitations in that the user must interpret the paper mapwith no ‘on-going’ dialog or input along the pathway as to correct orincorrect selections of turns or travel. Also, the user of this systemmust, on his/her own logic, determine the progression of any route andfinal destination without any further feedback or interaction from theway-finding system. This results in misinterpretations and errors byusers causing a failure in the user's travel within a building to thedesired location. Also, because there is no process for any feedbacken-route, the user, many times, does not even know he has made a mistakeuntil he fails to find the desired end location. This can be timeconsuming and provide frustration to a user who is likely unfamiliarwith the actual routes available surrounding their current buildingand/or facility location. Systems like the “Way-Finder” systems reliesheavily on the ability of the user to interpret the map correctly andidentify on his own specific building visual cues. Global PositionSystems are not usable within a building or facility due to the lack of‘line-of-sight” to multiple satellite locations indoors. Radio-frequencytriangulation (“RFT”) systems also have limitations that are overcome bythe invention. RFT's require major installation of wiring throughout abuilding, causing disruption and damage to walls, ceilings, floors, andother wired devices; and require fixed radio frequency transceiverswhich must be attached to walls and/or ceilings. These fixed monitorsmust operate based on a control system that take up value building andtelecommunication space. RFT's also rely on the continuous ‘beaming’ ofradio frequency throughout the building for use, whether needed at thatmoment or not. Also, coverage with RFT's rely on overlapping coverageareas, RTS's can leave gaps in coverage, and usually require that peoplebe showered with RF on a constant basis. Current applications of RFIDonly contemplate the use of ‘portal’ technology, where the onlyinformation provided by a tag is whether or not a user or item has gonethrough a portal.

An inertial guidance system is practically cost prohibitive and must becalibrated frequently and even when correctly calibrated suffers from‘drift’ complications, prohibiting precise locations and lacks feedbackfrom actual building identifier locations.

With the establishment and advancements of such technology as RFIDtechnology, unique locations within a building can be assigned an exactidentifier that can be associated in a logical computer data basecreating a grid pattern for the entire building that correlates to theactual physical properties of any building.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the invention, there is provided a real time traveldirector including means and method (FPS) for the interactive mapping ofa building or warehouse or other usable structure such that a user canaccess building co-ordinates via a mobile unit which can provide realtime information about where the user (whether a human, robotic orvehicle [“HRV”]) is in a building and where a user needs to go for apre-determined location and carrying along other information to presentat the destination or any interim point.

A Remote Mobile Unit (“RMU”) tracks the HRV user's progress towards thedestination and provides a real time output in GUI interface, othervisual and audio to provide clues to the user for further progress alongthe route. For instance, the RMU compares a segment of the linearlyplaced ID tags with themselves and/or other resident telemetricsignatures to any device that is capable of receiving any telemetricfrequencies (any frequency from the audio to infra-red spectrums) andidentify the same. The second component is a unique identifies, such asan RFID “tag” chip or other unique telemetric frequency identifier thatis either assigned or possesses a unique identifier within a buildingand/or facility. A third component is a computerized logic programcontained in the receiver or base unit that provides a grid pattern ofthe identifiers that corresponds with specific locations within abuilding and/or facility. A fourth component is a data base unit thatprovides the unique tag with a position within a known or existingbuilding structure. The building coordinates are established byassociating logical coordinates with the identifiers. Each ‘sweep’ ofthe reader collects data and compares it to the data base within themobile reader and/or data base unit and provides the user with hislocation. Or, the destination can be pre-established by user input tothe Reader/base unit to provide an interactive map and direction finderto the user when activated on reads from the identifiers. The mobilityaspect of the invention is such that as the receiver receives andevaluates the input data from the unique identifiers, it correspondsthose unique positions within the fixed locations of the buildingaccording to its data base, and establishes the user's position eitherin transit, as a fixed position, or expressed as a route map as shown bya GUI interface on the receiver. The Receiver can also be programmed tocreate a route map to a specific devise, place or thing, that has beenassigned a unique place in the building and has been assigned a uniqueidentifier. The Receiver can have data from the base unit down loadedinto it or can download information into the base unit. The logic canalso be programmed by the receiver relative to the unique identifiers.Places and equipment can be established on the grid system, providing auser with a unique location for a specific item, place or piece ofequipment, and establish a travel route to that item, place or thing.The System can also prioritize methods and manners of travel toefficiently and effectively provide a HVR User with a preferred triporder, preferred trip ending, preferred interim stops, or preferredprioritized stops first then other less priority stops later, to name afew. The HVR user can also prioritize for on end destination, severalinterim destinations, or prioritize the interim stops along the way andeven plan according to a timing mechanism which will put the HVR User atcertain stops at specific times. The System can also be programmed toprovide a read-out to avoid certain places and verify when each finaland/or interim destination has been reached both to an end user and to amaster data base.

The System can use either passive or active RFID tags and use either lowfrequency, high frequency (“near field”) and/or ultra high frequencies(“far field”).

In an upgrade, the FMPS can be programmed to include electronicdocumentation that is instantly downloaded when a specific destinationis reached, or be programmed with electronic ‘credits’ that instantlycredit an account when an interim and/or final destination is reached.For instance, in a hospital application, where a patient is traversingthe hospital to take various medical tests, the FMPS can be programmedwith the insurance data of a person using the FMPS which is downloadableautomatically when the person arrives at a specific location at ahospital; or the information that would be downloaded could include thepatient name and number of a patient and other patient account andmedical records reference, such that when the patient holding a RMUreaches the desired location for a test, it is programmed to prompt aexisting receptor program at that testing site where the RMU sends anindicator alerting a patient staging program on the receptor program,thus, sending the patient's name and number and accounting formation andother information, prompting the hospital personnel to know that thepatient has appeared for whatever test is necessary at that location andhaving the RMU prompt the information in their resident data bank foruse and application.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent uponreading the following detailed description and upon reference to thedrawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an environment, such as a hospitalfloor, in which the real time travel director may be used;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the real time travel directorillustrating its operation in a passageway of the environment;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the real time travel director utilizingprocessor bandwidth of another computer via wireless connection;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating the environment with a virtualgrid superimposed;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating the use of the real timetravel director on a vehicle, such as a fork lift, the data received bythe director and the source tags in the environment;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating the use of the real timetravel director by a person in a passageway of the environment;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the real time travel directorillustrating its operation in a multi-level environment;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating the use of the real timetravel director by a robotic unit in a passageway of the environment;

FIG. 9 is a graphic representation of an RFID tag;

FIG. 10 is an illustration of a use of multiple tags of FIG. 9 on afirst substrate;

FIG. 11 is an illustration of a use of multiple tags of FIG. 9 on asecond substrate;

FIG. 12 is an illustration of a use of multiple tags of FIG. 9 orientedat multiple angles; and

FIG. 13 is an illustration of a use of multiple tags of FIG. 9 on athird substrate.

While the invention will be described in connection with preferredembodiments thereof, it will be understood that it is not intended tolimit the invention to those embodiments or to the details of theconstruction or arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A description of the Mobile Facility Destination/Location System with aprioritization and optimization selection feature follows.

The Mobile Facility Destination/Location System (“FDLS”) is a newproduct/system/invention for ‘real-time’ directing ofhuman/robotic/vehicular (“HRV”) travel via a handheld remote mobile unit(“RMU”) device that displays ‘real time’ directions for finding adestination or series of destinations within a defined space like abuilding or facility or other physical property. For the purposes ofthis description, it is contemplated that a building such as a hospitalis used as an example. (See, FIG. 1, a depiction of a floor within abuilding).

However, under the teachings of this invention the invention could alsobe used in other physical properties like a large aircraft, train orsubmarine, which cannot otherwise obtain static signals such as GPSpositioning.

The FDLS can also locate and direct travel to specific coordinates,people, places, and/or components and equipment within a facility. (See,FIG. 2).

By the teaching of the invention method disclosed herein, the FDLScreates a complete virtual signature of an existing physicalbuilding/structure and defines coordinates on a virtual grid within theRMU by comparing the linear range from a set of unique segmentsprogrammed on multiple sequenced identifier tags (“ID's” or “ID tags”)programmed on strategically placed ID's, such as active and/or passiveRFID (Radio Frequency Identification) tags/chips, or by identifyingexisting telemetric signals pre-existing in a building/facility. (See,FIG. 3).

The system operates by comparing the linear interrogations with otherunique signatures from other RFID tags or from other existing radiofrequency (RF) signals or any other telemetric signatures availablewithin the facility. In one embodiment, to create the virtual space, theFDLS RMU first programs the ID tags according to a spacial and/ordescriptive attributes or other categorical attributes or identifiersthereof in order to make available spontaneous relational sequencing andordering from the ID tags. In this embodiment, the mobile FDLS device,in user ‘origination’ mode, upon receiving a ‘start’ instruction readsavailable signatures from ID tags and develops them into a virtual spacecapable of configuring a logical progression of path segments, based onrelative spacing of objects and virtual objects, for a visual/audio readout on the FDLS RMU. This is done for such a purposes as providing tothe HRV user various logical path segments leading to a final desiredand input destination which defines one or more specific methods ofactual physical travel within a building/facility avoiding obstacles totravel. The FDLS System determines from the virtual grid locationscorrelation to actual places in a facility to achieve one or more actualpossible physical methods of travel, along path segments, within thedefined space of a building or a facility or other physical property.

In one use, an HRV makes an inquiry about a destination, and then thelogical computer system within the FDLS RMU inventories options from itsvirtual ID tags data base and creates a route, expressed in one or moredirectional path segments that ultimately link a complete path togetherwhich leads the HRV User from one specific point in a facility to afinal destination. (See, FIG. 2). In another use, the HRV User makes an‘optimized travel request’ (“OTR”) based prioritization of categoricalattributes. Optimized travel requests are expressed as categories ofequipment, like HVAC units, electrical boxes, plumbing and the like.Another way to create OTR's is to create categories of priority itemssuch as travel by a doctor having an emergency room as a priority orOTR.

The FDLS System can be programmed to provide grid resolution to veryexacting locations (within a few inches) or general locations (within afew feet) as desired. Grid resolution is a factor of the number ofactual/virtual ID tags and their corresponding inputs into the FDLSSystem, which affects costs and can be scaled up and down for higher orlower resolution. (See FIG. 4).

The initial query about a destination, route or circuit of travel can beinput into the RMU through the process of virtual identificationdescribed below, or the RMU can use available technology such as “barcodes” to read from a pre-programmed list, whereby the human user doesnot need to know where any particular item is, but can scan theseselections as input to the RMU via a electronic or hard-copy “index” or“list”. For instance, if an HVAC employee needed to inspect all or aspecific air conditioner within a building, he could scan the bar codeof one or more HVAC's types from a document or electronic listmaintained by the facility, which, then the RMU would configure todetermine a route of travel within the building to visit one or morelocations as input. Or, the HVAC employee could chose the “category” of“HVAC” from the resident index on the RMU, which would then produce amethod of travel, to be displayed in a ‘en-route’ fashion, to theemployee to travel to all such HVAC units. Likewise, another type oftechnician, such as a plumber could input or scan in one or morespecific plumbing chases and the RMU would develop path segments tosequence a single route or a circuit to be traveled to visit all desiredlocations. Also, a person needing to ‘re-certify’ or ‘re-inspect’equipment, such as medical equipment could use the same method of theRMU to identify a circuit and route for travel to all such items aschosen from the category list.

In an alternative embodiment, a category of persons, places or thingscan be selected by the HRV user and the RMU would provide path segmentstowards travel to each item. Thus, the functioning of the RMU wouldpermit selection by category of type of equipment or person, or place tovisit and evaluate these items against the requested travel within anassumed or programmed in time or other categorical factor, such asunavailability of travel due to remodeling and/or construction.

In an alternate embodiment, a person, such as a maintenance techniciancould query the RMU via voice actuated command, saying, for instance,“electrical closets, south annex” whereupon the RMU would compute thenecessary path segments to accomplish travel circuits and/or routes toall electrical closets in that annex of the facility. In this fashionalso, the RMU's output can be optimized by time, importance, and/oraccording to maintenance schedule (or other category) to be followedvisually and/or audibly to the destination on the RMU. Instead of voice,the RMU could be queried by any other means of selection of categoryaccording to the teachings of the present invention.

When activated, the FDLS RMU, whether hand-held or mounted on a vehiclelike a forklift, (shown below) continually polls ID tags to determinecurrent relative position of the HRV user and all other input, via thereadable ID tags, both in its virtual data base and as affixed and/orexisting in a building. (See, FIG. 5). During this process, the RMUinputs this information into the virtual system which then updates thetravel of the HRV User along one or more of the defined path segmentswithin the confines of the categories and/or priorities assigned by theHRV User or as assumed by the RMU.

The FDLS RMU indicates a HRV User's progress and the success or failureof the HRV User in traveling along the defined path segments and inarriving at the pre-determined destination(s) or circuits. The FDLS RMUlogic system is ‘en-route’ programmable permitting the introduction ofalternate or new destinations during any path segment. The FDLS RMU alsoprovides an interactive/directional map and/or guide and queryingfunctions for initial input or for intermediate input along the definedpath segments or expressed as initial or sequential alternatives (two ormore methods of travel that the HRV User can select from). The FDLS RMUalso permits the prioritizing of travel or stops or categories of itemsto be included in the desired destination(s) along the way. Forinstance, if a maintenance worker needed the most preferred method oftravel to inspect several facility closets, the FDLS System wouldproject the best method of travel to achieve stops at each desiredlocation. Likewise, if a physician needed to makes numerous ‘rounds’ tosee patients in rooms within a facility such as a Hospital, the FDLSSystem would give one or more preferred paths segments expressed as acomplete circuit that would include stops at each desired location. Inthis fashion the HRV User can either select to return to his point oforigination or exit the facility at another point selected after thedesired travel. Also, the FDLS can be programmed to provide that samephysician with travel for “priority” stops, for instance, a doctor coulduse the FDLS System to program his desired route within a hospital basedon travel to the most critical patients first. Also, a human HRV Userlike a patient arriving at a hospital facility for numerous tests coulduse the FDLS System for finding his/her way to various labs at specifictimes, as the RMU provides sequencing for time values and provides analarm queue for beginning the next segment within a complete circuitincluding a ‘timing feature’ that would arrange travel to meetpre-specified times. In this fashion the patient HRV User would find theFDLS System useful to find their way in a hospital from the entry pointto one specific destination or multiple destinations.

The mobile FDLS reader/mobile unit (“RMU”) once initiated by the HRVuser continues to read automatically along the path actually traveled bythe HRV user. (See, FIG. 6). I can contain patient coding information to‘ping’ a receptor database when the desired destination is reached.Also, the FDLS RMU provides the HRV user with a one or both of visualand/or audio display providing cues as to direction of movement requiredto achieve each path segment along to the desired destination as well ascues as to intermittent progress along the path segment, via a ‘progressbar’ or other indicator showing the HRV's progress along the indicatedpaths, as well as an indicator showing degree of advancement towards thepredetermined destination(s), and indicators to advise the user suchcues as to either turn left, right, go forward, back up, and/or go up ordown one or more levels. (See, FIG. 7).

As the HRV user travels with the mobile reader his origination locationremains constant or the FDLS RMU can be reinitiated using any currentlocation along the defined path. The FDLS RMU functions may also beintegrated into or attached to existing mobile devices such as PDAand/or cell phone technologies. The FDLS RMU can also direct a similarpath segments or circuits to provide directions to specific equipment,places and/or people recognized from unique ID tags resident within thelogic virtual computer system.

Likewise, with the FDLS System a robotic could deliver medicines in ahospital based on the FDLS's ability to create from starting andintermittent stop inputs numerous path segments which would be necessaryfor a complete round; and the FDLS System would provide one or moreroutes for accomplishing such travel whether for one destination oralong a circuit. (See, FIG. 8).

Also, a vehicle, such as a forklift or man-lift could use the FDLSSystems' mobility and destination finding capabilities in order toachieve intermediate stops towards a final destination, or a singledestination. Several stops could be programmed into the FDLS System forthis purpose, such as several stops to pick up desired inventory beforearriving at a loading dock.

The FDLS invention can be programmed in its mobile unit to use currentlyexisting RFID technology, by placing active and/or passive ID tags on atape strip, doors, walls, ceilings, above ceilings, on or under floors,in or under carpets, within or manufactured as a part of molding or trimor wall coverings by affixing the ID tags by any known method ofaffixature of a small device to a surface/space. The ID tags once placedand programmed, either internally or as a signal recognized by thevirtual logical system contained within the Mobile FDLS device, allrelate to one another in the virtual logical computer system program toachieve coordinates from any set of ID tags and/or any other receivabletelemetric frequency identified and defined within the physical space inorder to decipher one unique position within a building and/or facilityand chart and/or project a step by step path segments towards a defineddestination within an actual physical building. The Mobile FDLS Systemuses the input from the ID tags to create real travel through abuilding/facility avoiding walls and other obstructions and providingtravel through hallways, rooms, warehouses, elevators, stairs and otherphysical attributes of a building/facility that can accommodate HRVtraffic.

The FDLS system includes one or more remote mobile units (RMU). (See,examples FIGS. 2 & 7). The RMU operates on a computer platform which isa hardwired and/or mobile/battery operated device capable of programmingand/or receiving information such as radio frequency or any othertelemetric information. The RMU can use the technology commonly known asmobile RFID transceivers (transmitter/receiver) [often called a “RFIDReader”] as an integral part. The RMU can be a ‘dual function’ unit thatboth reads and writes data information from and to ID tags such aspassive or active RFID chips or can consist of two separate units, onefor programming the ID tags and one for reading and FDLS functioning.(See, FIG. 9). The RMU reader may be as simple as a memory device with asingle led light or a complete user friendly GUI interface. The RMU canuse simple computing or interface into a grid computing systems thatshares idle CPU cycles with other RMU's in the area. Or, the RMU mayinclude and evaluate raster and/or vector information for GUI interfaceoutput to a HRV User. The RMU uses the input from the ID tags forcompletion of the analytical processes as identified above. The RMUreader uses the logical computer interface evaluation operations asidentified above to achieve specific results for optimization,prioritization and/or category travel/destinations. The RMU can alsooperate on the input from a device such as a video camera, audioreceiver and/or infra-red receiver which can interpret telemetricsignals of original origin or from ID tags. The RMU has certaincomponents including a system for graphical/audio/machine/roboticinterface. The RMU has components for evaluating optimization resultsand output, for evaluating prioritization results and outputs, and forevaluating cateorized information obtained from input from both thedefined space environment and HRV User input.

The FDLS system includes ID Tags. ID tags can be a simple as eitherpassive or active RFID tag or tag in combination with other tags or thattag in combination with other telemetric signals, or can be solely basedupon original telemetric signals from any emitting/reflecting sourcereadable and/or having a unique signal. (See, FIG. 8). An important newuse and invention is the use of an ID tag which can also be a “vectortag” (“VTAG”) which is capable of being read by the RMU such that itsangle of incidence can be derived relative to the RMU. (See, FIGS. 10,11 and 12 for examples). The VTAG consists of one or more ID tags placedby aligning multiple tags in close proximity with each other but withdiffering antennae orientation. (See, FIGS. 9, 10,11). Also, the VTAGcan also be deployed to be used in combination with one or more ID tagsthat have shielding devices over their antenna permitting reception fromone orientation, but prohibiting reception/reading from anotherorientation. One skilled in the art will recognize that this uniqueapplication for the VTAG's is pictured in another use by the louversused on a stop light, which permit viewing from one orientation, butshield viewing from other orientations. (See, FIG. 13). In this fashionthe FDLS logical computing system can use reads from the VTAG's toidentify orientation and direction of travel as well as theprogress/origination/destination of travel of a HRV User to provide itsdata output.

The FDLS system includes computer interfaces. One or more computerinterfaces with middle ware and/or endware which interact with the RMUand/or the main database either along the way or at the beginning pointand destination point(s) and any interim point. The FDLS ‘reader’ isloaded with an intelligent computer logic including user specificinformation that can ‘ping’ a receptor program upon arrival at any givenpoint, either to announce arrival or provide other user informationelectronically, thus, avoiding the need for the user to carry hard copypapers from one location to another (or carry medical records). The FDLS‘reader’ program also can operate, in one method, by means of a givenprotocol that first identifies a starting location and a desireddestination from its virtual data base of ID tags and/or othertelemetric tags and computes one or more physical path segments for aHRV user to travel along in a defined facility to achieve a realphysical travel guide from the origination location to the destinationor any number of intermediate positions in-between. The mobile FDLS canalso be programmed to provide the most efficient path to one or morepredetermined locations or the most efficient paths to series oflocations. The FDLS System can also organize a series of destinationsinput according to a user's desired categories and/or prioritization ofpersons, places and/or things and it will provide optimized pathsegments to accomplish the travel within the facility according toestablished hierarchy protocol. This provides the ability to eitherdesign travel within a building and/or facility according to criticalstep-saving path segments, or according to places that have the mostcritical need for a visit by the HRV user.

The logic protocol can either use the correlations from actual physicallocations in a facility compared with ID locations in the virtualdatabase or the data for identifying the path segments can be derived asrelative positions of ID's one from another. Each ID tag will containinformation about the type of object it is attached to or represents,and other important categorical information and/or signals that areemitted from the ID tags. This information can be combined and used bythe FDLS System to create optimized circuits for building maintenance orother destination objectives. While this invention is focused on amethod for a user to find a path to a preset destination or destinationswithin a building, and will greatly assist the process of return oninvestment for timely maintenance of building components, manyvariations and modifications may be made to the described embodiment(s)of the invention without departing substantially from the spirit andprinciples of the invention. For example, an FDLS RMU could assist ashopper in finding the best method of travel through a large shoppingcenter or store to achieve pre-set shopping goals.

Thus, it is apparent that there has been provided, in accordance withthe invention, a real time travel director that fully satisfies theobjects, aims and advantages set forth above. While the invention hasbeen described in conjunction with several embodiments thereof, it isevident that many alternatives, modifications and variations will beapparent to those skilled in the art and in light of the foregoingdescription. Accordingly, it is intended to embrace all suchalternatives modifications and variations as fall within the scope ofthe appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. For use in navigating, a travel director comprising: means for providing a signature signal, the means for providing a signature signal including a plurality of signature signal sources located in respective predetermined positions relative to the predetermined environment; means for storing data indicative of the position of the plurality of the signature signal sources and the positions of a plurality of destination locations in relation to the environment, the stored data including a plurality of destination categories, each destination category of the plurality of destination categories including at least one destination location; means for selecting at least one destination category; means for creating a route from a real time position of the travel director to a final destination, the final destination being one of the plurality of destination locations, the route including each destination location included in the selected destination category, the route being created to optimize the route as a function of predetermined categorical attributes associated with the selected destination category; means for receiving a signature signal from at least one of the signature signal sources; and means responsive to receipt of the signature signal by said receiving means for comparing said source position and destination position data to determine the position of said director relative to said destination.
 2. A director according to claim 1, said storing mean further for storing data indicative of a plurality of discrete travel paths in the predetermined environment.
 3. A director according to claim 2, said comparing means further for comparing said source position data, said destination position data and said travel path data to create a virtual route linking said director to the destination.
 4. A director according to claim 3 further comprising means for indicating deviation of said director from said virtual route.
 5. For use in navigating in a predetermined environment, a travel director comprising: means for providing a signature signal, the means for providing a signature signal including a plurality of signature signal sources located in respective predetermined positions relative to the predetermined environment; means for storing data indicative of the positions of the plurality of signature signal sources and the positions of the predetermined destinations in relation to the environment, the stored data including a plurality of destination categories, each destination category of the plurality of destination categories including at least one destination location; means for selecting one of the predetermined destinations as a final destination; means for selecting at least one destination category; means for creating a route from a real time position of the travel director to the final destination, the route including each destination location included in the selected destination category, the route being created to optimize the route as a function of predetermined categorical attributes associated with the selected destination category; means for receiving unique signature signals from the sources; means responsive to receipt of at least one of said signature signals by said receiving means for comparing corresponding said source positions and said selected destination position data to determine the position of said director relative to said selected destination.
 6. A director according to claim 5, said storing means further for storing data indicative of a plurality of discrete travel paths in the predetermined environment.
 7. A director according to claim 6, said comparing means further for comparing said source position data, said selected destination position data and said travel path data to create a virtual route linking said director to the selected destination.
 8. A director according to claim 7 further comprising means for indicating deviation of said director from said virtual route.
 9. A travel director according to claim 1, the signature signal sources including passive RFID tags.
 10. A travel director according to claim 1, each signature signal source being associated with a category of predefined items.
 11. A travel director according to claim 10, the route being optimized by the category associated with the final destination and the selected destination category.
 12. A travel director according to claim 1, the route being optimized as a function of a predefined priority between the destination locations.
 13. A travel director according to claim 5, the signature signal sources including passive RFID tags.
 14. A travel director according to claim 5, each signature signal source being associated with a category of predefined items.
 15. A travel director according to claim 14, the route being optimized by the category associated with the final destination and the selected destination category.
 16. A travel director according to claim 5, the route being optimized as a function of a predefined priority between the destination locations.
 17. An apparatus, comprising: a plurality of signature signal sources located in respective predetermined positions relative to a predetermined environment, each signature signal source having a unique identifier; a database for storing map data associated with the predetermined environment, the map data including the position of each of the signature signal sources, for storing a plurality of destination locations, each destination location being associated with at least one signature signal source, and for storing a plurality of destination categories, each destination category of the plurality of destination categories including at least one destination location; a remote unit capable of receiving signals from the signature signal sources, the signals including the unique identifier of the respective signature signal source; and, control logic coupled to the database and the remote unit for receiving a user selection indicative of at least one destination category, for determining each destination location included in the selected destination category, and for establishing a real time position of the remote unit and the positions of the selected destination locations, the control logic being adapted to create a route from an origination location including a real time position of the remote unit to a final destination, the final destination being one of the selected destination locations, the route including each selected destination location, the route being created to optimize the route as a function of predetermined categorical attributes associated with the selected destination category.
 18. An apparatus according to claim 17, the signature signal sources including passive RFID tags.
 19. An apparatus according to claim 17, each signature signal source being associated with a category of predefined items.
 20. An apparatus according to claim 19, the route being optimized by the category associated with the final destination and each destination location.
 21. An apparatus according to claim 17, the route being optimized as a function of a predefined priority between the destination locations.
 22. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 17, wherein at least one of the signature signal sources includes a vector signal source, the vector signal source being capable of each read by the remote unit such that an angle of incidence relative to the remote unit is derived.
 23. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 22, wherein the vector signal source includes at least two tags aligned in close proximity.
 24. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 23, wherein each of the tags includes an antenna, the antennas of the tags having differing orientation.
 25. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 23, wherein at least one of the at least two tags includes an antenna and a shielding device which allows reception/reading from one orientation and prohibits reception/reading from another orientation.
 26. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 17, the control logic for determining a planned period of time to travel the calculated route, for determining a current location of the remote unit along the route, for determining an elapsed period of time from the origination location to the current location, and for responsively displaying a notification if the elapsed time is different than the planned period of time.
 27. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 17, the control logic for generating a prioritized destinations list including an order of destination locations based on a user selection and for determining the route based on the prioritized destinations list.
 28. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 17, wherein the predefined environment is one of a hospital, a store, and a warehouse.
 29. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 17, wherein the predefined environment is a hospital, at least one destination category of the plurality of destination categories includes hospital patients associated with a doctor.
 30. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 17, wherein the plurality of destination categories includes at least one of persons, places, and equipment located within the predetermined environment.
 31. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 17, wherein the plurality of destination categories includes at least one of HVAC units, electrical boxes, and plumbing located within the predetermined environment.
 32. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 17, wherein the remote unit is adapted to be coupled to a vehicle to facilitate navigating the vehicle through the predetermined environment.
 33. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 17, wherein the remote unit is adapted to be coupled to a robotic to facilitate navigating the robotic through the predetermined environment.
 34. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 17, wherein the remote unit includes at least one of a PDA and a cell phone.
 35. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 17, wherein the predefined environment includes is one of a shopping center and a grocery store, at least one destination category of the plurality of destination categories includes a prioritized list of shopping items associated with a shopper, the route being created to optimize the route as a function of the prioritized list of shopping items to assist the shopper in traveling through the predefined environment. 